Sharansky will unveil full Western Wall plan in two weeks

August 13, 2013

(JTA) — Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky is expected to release his full plan for a compromise among religious groups at the Western Wall in two weeks.

Sharansky, according to Haaretz, aims to release the plan before the end of...

Israel’s Supreme Court rejects petition against Palestinian prisoner release

August 13, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a petition against the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners filed by the families of their victims.

Supreme Court President Asher Grunis on Tuesday morning issued a statement rejecting the petition, which said the...

Eilat rocket attack repelled by Iron Dome battery

August 13, 2013

By RONIT ZILBERSTEIN, LILACH SHOVA and Israel Hayom/JNS.org

Hours after a Grad rocket was intercepted by an Israeli Iron Dome battery in the southern city of Eilat for the first time, a Salafi Palestinian terror organization claimed responsibility for the...

Haredi Orthodox riot at Beit Shemesh construction site

August 12, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Dozens of haredi Orthodox men rioted at a construction site in Beit Shemesh, which they believe is a burial site.

Some 14 rioters were arrested during Monday’s protest by Jerusalem District Police, including one on charges of...

Palestinian prisoner list released prior to renewed talks

August 12, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A committee of Israeli government ministers released a list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel in advance of the first round of peace negotiations.

The list released at 1 a.m. Monday includes 14 prisoners who...

Israel staying mum on airstrike near Egyptian border

August 12, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel is neither confirming nor denying that it was responsible for a drone attack on terrorists near its border with Egypt.

In a statement issued late Saturday night, Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that ‘‘Israel respects...

Merkel: Germany will never be neutral on Israel

August 12, 2013

(JTA) — Germany will never be neutral when it comes to Israel, Chancellor Angela Merkel told a Jewish newspaper.

“The heinous crime committed by Germany against the Jews, the betrayal of all civilized values that was the Shoah, will always...

Jerusalem mayor: Let peace deal negotiations collapse rather than make a ‘bad deal’

August 11, 2013

(JNS.org) – With renewed Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations underway, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat warned against Israeli concessions relating to his city. “If the deal collapses because it hinges on the Jerusalem issue, so be it. It is better not to make...

IDF orders closure of Eilat Airport

August 08, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israel Defense Forces ordered Eilat’s airport to close following a security assessment.

The airport was ordered to close Thursday evening; it was reopened two hours later.

Eight flights scheduled to land Thursday night in Eilat...

Israel will not sign EU agreements with settlement guidelines

August 08, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel reportedly wants modifications in the European Union’s new guidelines barring funding for ventures in the occupied territories before it signs any new agreements with the EU.

The decision to ask the EU to reword, or “clarify,”...